While most of the hype around blockchain has centered on cryptocurrency, the promise of blockchain technology is much broader. A blockchain is a distributed system with a distributed shared datastore, sometimes called a distributed ledger, supporting cryptographically verifiable transactions. Nodes agree on the distributed ledger state using a distributed consensus algorithm. When paired with smart contracts, blockchains provide a way of creating a distributed web of trust for specific applications where cooperation is needed between participants who may not have reason to trust each other in general.

In this course, we’ll take an introductory look at blockchains, smart contracts, distributed identity management, and nonfungible tokens (NFTs).

Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course, you should be able to

• Describe the terms blockchain, dapp, Web3 and Layer 2 scaling solutions and interchain
• Compare and contrast the “Big Three” major blockchain platforms: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Hyperledger
• Discuss and compare use cases for blockchain technology, decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials
• Categorize fungible and nonfungible tokens.
• Explain uniswaps and stable coins, Defi applications and central bank digital currency

Topics Include

• The three fundamental technologies underlying blockchain systems: distributed consensus, cryptography and distributed ledger data structures
• Identity and access management for blockchains - the difference between permissioned/permissionless, public/private distributed ledgers
• Smart contracts, smart contract programming languages and environments, and how smart contracts turn blockchain into a platform for constructing decentralized applications (dapps)
• Appropriate use cases for blockchain technology solutions and how to successfully execute a blockchain project
• Decentralized identifiers and verifiable credentials
• Tokens and tokenomics: fungible and nonfungible tokens and how to use tokenization to assign value to assets and liabilities that are difficult to quantify
• Financial applications: uniswaps, stablecoins, Defi applications and central bank digital currencies

Prerequisite Skills

Students should have a basic understanding of computer systems security. Some familiarity with blockchain applications and cryptocurrency, at a high level, would also be helpful. Basic blockchain technology will be reviewed at the beginning of the course.